Neither the arrest of Shawne Merriman nor whatever comes of it has any bearing on his long-term future as a Charger. It was already set that Merriman wasn't going to be here after his contract expires following this season (or, perhaps, after the Chargers no longer control his free agency status following the 2010 season, depending on what happens with the NFL's looming labor issues). I even stated this unequivocally about a year ago.

But this current situation doesn't help his standing with the team's decision makers (maker) and it could even shorten his short-term future.

Pretty much everyone already knew that Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith was weary of hearing Merriman's name in so many public places.

And that was before those mentions included alleged felonies.

Whatever anyone's opinion about Merriman's off-the-field pursuits, he had not been in trouble with the law and is careful about how he conducts himself in public.

Then, yesterday at 3:45 a.m., sheriff's deputies were summoned to Merriman's house by a 911 call from Tila Tequila, an MTV reality series star who of late has been publicly professing her affection for Merriman. Tequila, whose real name is Tila Nguyen, alleged Merriman choked her, threw her to the ground and physically restrained her.

Merriman says he was trying to keep Nguyen from driving intoxicated and that almost a dozen witnesses will back him up on that. (He also said she wasn't his girlfriend, as was widely reported yesterday.)

“I was trying to help her, not hurt her,” he told me last night. “I'm still glad I did what I did.”

Regardless, he was charged with battery and false imprisonment. The District Attorney's office will decide whether there is enough evidence for formal charges to be filed.

However the legal issue is resolved, it won't have much affect on Merriman's limited remaining time as a Charger.

How limited, we'll see.

Smith wouldn't address any of my queries yesterday, but suffice it to say he was not happy with how his Sunday had turned.

Merriman will play in Monday's season opener and for the foreseeable future. Neither the team nor the NFL will take any action (if any is warranted) until the legal process has run its course.

But don't think it is beyond the reach or the gumption of Smith to part ways with Merriman even before this season is finished.

While Smith wouldn't be able to call up Al Davis and see if the enigmatic (I'm being kind) Raiders owner will give him a first-round pick, as Davis yesterday did to the New England Patriots for Richard Seymour, Smith might take whatever he can get to rid himself of Merriman.

I didn't say this
will
happen. But I know Smith fairly well, and it
could
happen.

Love him or hate him, you can't deny that Smith has his convictions.

He believes strongly in his policy that players are “Chargers one year at a time.” He proved this offseason that was true even for LaDainian Tomlinson.

And Tomlinson doesn't give Smith headaches or make his voice rise.

That policy most often applies to those players who don't conform to what Smith views as an ideal Charger due to off-the-field pursuits and/or peccadilloes.

Smith got rid of Shane Olivea. Maybe he had no choice after Olivea's play suffered and he admitted to a drug addiction. But Olivea took $9 million before leaving, making his 2006 signing arguably Smith's biggest mistake as G.M.

Smith got rid of Anthony Waters. And jettisoning a third-round pick after two seasons is a big deal.

Point is, Smith does what Smith thinks is right.

He has files on players, in which he keeps track of their off-field exploits.

Some players' files are thin. Some are thick. When a player's file gets too thick, he is no longer a Charger.

Merriman's file is thick. Whether it is too thick, only Smith will be the judge of that.